Columbia & Cooper 2012 Team

Columbia University

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Genetics

Copper Etching

The Effects of A. ferrooxidans

The Columbia-Cooper iGEM team is working with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to create a light-controlled printed circuit board manufacturing process. This bacteria’s metabolism relies on its ability to oxidize iron; the iron can then be used to oxidize, and in turn solubilize, copper. By genetically altering the bacteria, we will install a light sensitive mechanism which will enable controlled copper etching, leaving a finished circuit board. Once a blank printed circuit board is placed in a thin layer of solid media, the bacteria will be applied onto the surface of the media and light of the appropriate wavelength will be focused on it in a desired pattern. The light sensitive mechanism in A. ferrooxidans will activate a self-destructing mechanism preventing copper etching in these locations. In the end, the circuit board will be "etched" by the bacteria everywhere that is not illuminated, leaving a desired pattern on the circuit board under the cells in the path of the light. Click here for details.

Our Genetics Team was responsible for designing and implementing a series of genes which would allow us to exert light based spatial control of apoptosis in E.coli, and eventually transition into A. ferrooxidans. This design includes the expression of a light sensor, which, when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, triggers transcription of a lysis cassette. A few of the parts which we experimented with are BBa_K952000, BBa_K592016, and BBa_K124017.

Copper Etching

Our project is to revamp a chemical and mechanical manufacturing process, so in addition to working with DNA, we also worked on macro-scale batches of copper foil, ferrooxidans (the bacteria), and other chemicals. Using our liquid media, we were able to grow healthy ferrooxidans and simultaneously dissolve (etch) copper foil much faster than the basal rate (i.e. copper in the liquid media without ferrooxidans). Since our PCB manufacturing process requires the ferrooxidans to "stay put", we have been developing a solid agar-based media, on which the ferrooxidans grow, and below which the copper is etched, again faster than the basal rate. We have utilized nail polish as a varnish to control the etching until the genetics group completes our biological controled etching mechanism. Click here for details.

Biobrick

Our team submitted multiple composite parts, which were built from preexisting Biobricks and used in our project. We also submitted a novel red light sensing protein domain, FphA753s, which was constructed to conform to the RFC25 – Freiburg fusion standard, and is intended for future use to allow light based control of transcription. Click
here for a full list of our submitted parts.

Outreach

Our team organized a booth at the 2012 Maker Faire in New York City to share the work we've been doing with the public. We also made 3 interactive games to teach children about recombinant DNA and the various forms of bacterial transformation. Click here for details..